Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch has labelled the HSC class of 2020 as “extraordinary”.
With exams finally over, Tesch said students, teachers and support workers were to be commended for surviving a year of unprecedented challenges.
“Every year students have to face the challenges the HSC is bound to present and this year, I think we can all agree, has been like no other,” she said.
“Year 12 students have had to adapt to online learning and isolation, deal with the transition back to school and continue to complete their studies amongst the anxiety COVID-19 and social isolation has brought.”
Tesch said Jasmine Mitchell, a graduate from Ngaruki Gulgul Central School at Kariong, had reflected some of the struggles Year 12 have faced this year in her “incredible major artwork”.
The art piece, displayed at Central Coast Primary Care Mental Health Art Exhibition, was a deep reflection on Jasmine’s friend’s challenging journey with her mental health.
“Jasmine’s artwork possessed advanced symbolism techniques (and) while reflecting her friend’s experience, I’m sure transfers to many situations of mental battles, especially in our young people who have grown up with the influence of social media in their critical developing years,” she said.
“This artwork will resonate with many Year 12 students in 2020, with the … extremes of this year, forcing us all to rely on the World Wide Web more than we ever have before.”
But Tesch says the struggles of 2020 will help the HSC students in the future.
“The perseverance each one of you have displayed this year will follow you for the rest of your lives,” she said.
“If you can get through the HSC in 2020, I’m sure you can get through the next challenge, whatever it may be.
Source:
Media release, Nov 18
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch